New: President Trump is pointing to construction job gains as proof his manufacturing revival is underway. But the surge is being driven largely by data centers — while many factory projects remain in early planning stages. w/ @samjsutton.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

NEW: A WH official tells me it "will be hard to advise the president to sign" the housing bill if it doesn't address institutional investors. That's going to be a tough pill for the GOP — though the WH did not say it has to be a "ban." www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

NEW: President Trump confirms he spoke with China's President Xi this morning, but few new details. (China had already committed to making these soybean purchases.)

NEW: President Trump’s meeting with Colombia’s Gustavo Petro today wasn’t a reset so much as a case study in this White House’s style: escalate loudly, then lock in quiet cooperation. In this case, on counternarcotics. w/ @ebazail.bsky.social and Diana Nerozzi www.politico.com/news/2026/02...

Colombian President Gustavo Petro arrived at the White House just before 11 a.m. for his meeting with President Donald Trump, per pool. 👀 Interesting note though: Petro didn't get the full head-of-state treatment at the North Portico, entering through the side door instead.

Another day, another sweeping claim of executive power that defies both statutes and decades-old norms. By @meganmesserly.bsky.social with an assist from me: www.politico.com/news/2025/02...

NEW: The FDA on Thursday approved the country's first-ever daily hormonal contraceptive pill for sale without a prescription. https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/13/fda-approves-over-the-counter-birth-control-opill-00105711

Indiana boosted state funding to local health departments by 1,500 percent. Proponents, led by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, faced significant skepticism from GOP lawmakers. Here's how they got it done: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/13/red-state-public-health-funding-indiana-00105982